Must-see nightlife in Ukraine

  • Closer

    Kyiv

    More than just a nightclub, Closer is a bohemian tour de force that epitomises Kyiv's emergence as a hub of creativity and counterculture. Heavily…

  • Pravda Beer Theatre

    Lviv

    The latest addition to Lviv's drinking scene is this dramatically industrial, multistorey beer temple right on pl Rynok. The master brewer here creates…

  • Alchemist Bar

    Kyiv

    Kyiv's best bar is set in an intimate basement space on vibrant vul Shota Rustaveli. No pretensions, no strict feiskontrol (face control), just an…

  • Pink Freud

    Kyiv

    Pink Freud reckons it can cure you with quality cocktails. It may be right: its talented mixologists have created an original drink for every mood and…

  • Pyana Vyshnya

    Lviv

    It's easy to find this one-drink bar – just look for the crowd of people on pl Rynok holding tiny glasses of something crimson, any time of the day. The…

  • Na Stanislavskogo

    Kyiv

    Billing itself as a 'theatre cafe' (due to its proximity to the playhouses on nearby pl Ivana Franka), this place is an arty delight. It's all scuffed…

  • Svit Kavy

    Lviv

    Pick of the bunch on pl Katedralna, with no theme, no gimmicks, just a focus on Lviv's best coffee-making traditions (hence it's always packed with locals…

  • Kharms

    Kyiv

    This indie cafe at the back of the House of Scientists has a creative atmosphere, excellent coffee and a strong wi-fi connection – a perfect spot to plant…

  • Mur Mur

    Kyiv

    Mur Mur has been pushing the envelope of cutting-edge design in Kyiv for two decades – first as Concord restaurant, and now in its latest incarnation as a…

  • Lvivska Maysternya Shokoladu

    Lviv

    You'll find Lviv's chocolate cafes all over the country, but there's something special about the central Lviv branch where it all began. Cafe tables and…

  • Lvivska Kopalnya Kavy

    Lviv

    Lviv is Ukraine's undisputed coffee capital, and the 'Lviv Coffee Mine' is where the stratum of arabica is excavated by local colliers from deep beneath…

  • Parovoz

    Kyiv

    Hidden in the basement of the Kyiv Cinema, this is Kyiv's original speakeasy and a legend among Kyiv's bars. Whereas the bartenders at most top cocktail…

  • Espressoholic

    Kyiv

    A tiny but immensely popular coffee shop in Podil with high-quality caffeinated beverages, friendly baristas and low prices. The action spills out into…

  • Squat 17b Yard Cafe

    Kyiv

    Run by squatters living upstairs at the same address. It was once large enough to host live bands, but much of their space was reclaimed in 2017 and the…

  • Old Bar

    Kyiv

    Ukraine is grain country, so no surprise you can find good craft beer. There are 180 types of bottled beer here and more than 25 on tap – many of them…

  • Druzi Cafe

    Kyiv

    This bar/cafe spills into a courtyard near the origin of Andriyivsky uzviz. Choose between coffee, refreshing lemonades and competently mixed cocktails…

  • Dzyga

    Lviv

    This cafe–art gallery in the shadow of the Dominican Cathedral has a relaxed vibe. It's particularly popular with bohemian, alternative types but seems to…

  • Lviv Handmade Chocolate

    Kyiv

    A de rigueur stop after descending Andriyivsky uzviz, this dessert-cafe specialises in rich melted-chocolate concoctions from Lviv – Ukraine's unofficial…

  • Like a Local's

    Kyiv

    Ukraine has some good wine-growing areas in the south and in the west, and this welcoming little space is the place to sample them. Plenty of dry…

  • Kaffa

    Kyiv

    Around for years, Kaffa still serves the most heart-pumping, rich-tasting brew in town. Coffees and teas from all over the world are served in a pot…

  • Lift

    Kyiv

    Probably the best and most 'clubby' of Kyiv's growing repertoire of gay clubs, it gets quite packed on weekends and attracts a mostly gay clientele but…

  • Mokhnaty Khmil

    Kyiv

    You gotta love a place called 'Woolly Hops.' The selection of IPAs at this basement place is more wonderful than woolly, but we're not complaining. There…

  • Vagabond

    Kyiv

    This little bohemian hangout near Kyiv Mohyla Academy holds nightly events that might include poetry readings, storytelling or live music on the sidewalk…

  • Pivna Duma

    Kyiv

    A brewpub smack dab in the middle of town? Works for us. They produce a crisp pilsner, an aggressive wheat bock (6.2% alcohol), and seasonal specialities,…

  • Cafe 1

    Lviv

    Bright and welcoming, the jumble sale of mismatched furniture, old shoes and potted plants that tumbles out onto pl Katedralna is Cafe 1, a great place…

  • Hangover Bar

    Kyiv

    With an open-air dance floor packed with beautiful bodies, this is Kyiv's top summer nightclub. The action is, predictably, centred on weekend nights; at…

  • London

    Kyiv

    Enter through a door in the form of an iconic red telephone box to find yourself in this classy UK-inspired cafe. Siphon, aeropress and pour-over brews…

  • Paliturka Coffee & Books

    Kyiv

    An excellent find hidden in a courtyard off Khreshchyk, Paliturka has good tunes and a boho vibe, in addition to fine coffee. Plenty of spaces to chat or…

  • Podil East India Company

    Kyiv

    As the name implies, this American-owned place in the heart of Podil's bar district offers drinks as well as food with an Oriental twist. It's American…

  • Wood You Like Bar

    Kyiv

    This is an intimate, welcoming place serving great cocktails at reasonable prices. Try the killer Old Fashioned with Plantation rum (69% ABV) or the…

  • Medelin

    Lviv

    This is a surprisingly untouristy coffeehouse given the location, a joint favoured by the locals for its brews from around the bean-growing world. The…

  • Amigos Bar

    Kyiv

    A bar for real bar flies, Amigos is a laid-back place with friendly bartenders and big variety of original and classic drinks. It's significantly cheaper…

  • Cabinet

    Lviv

    Given a full makeover in recent years, the Cabinet has lost its ambience but is still a decent place for a coffee and cake stop. It's been done out as a…

  • Pyana Kachka

    Lviv

    This simple pub puts the focus on great beer. The beverages in question: obscure craft ales from around Ukraine for 30uah to 50uah a pint. There are also…

  • Kaffa

    Kyiv

    The Podil branch of the long-running, Africa-themed coffee shop. The original is just off maydan Nezalezhnosti.

  • Music Lab

    Lviv

    Low-beat rock knaypa (Lviv pub) where you can drink several kinds of beer and listen to (often) live music.

  • Barman Dictat

    Kyiv

    This is a huge, open basement space with one of the longest bars we've ever seen, backed by Kyiv's most impressive wall of booze. It's has plenty of…

  • Pid Zolotoyu Zirkoyu

    Lviv

    The latest addition to Lviv's cafe scene is this historical pharmacy punctiliously converted into a very stylish coffeehouse. The tables and bar are liver…

  • Maydan

    Western Ukraine

    The best, most atmospheric watering hole in town boasts a dark tavern-like hall with long benches and a stage for local weekend strummers to perform, two…

  • Robert Doms Beer House

    Lviv

    This fantastic, utterly unique beer hall is located three storeys underground in a centuries-old beer-storage vault once used by the neighbouring Lvivske…

More destinations you need to see